Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and Small Business Administration, release first round of “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” funding U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, along with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, and Acting Small Business Administrator Jeanne A. Hulit, today announced the winners of the first funding phase of the “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” (IMCP), an Obama administration initiative that will help accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States and create jobs in cities across the country. The $7 million in grants and other investments being announced today are the first round of funding in a major reform effort to reward communities for creating globally competitive environments that attract, retain, and expand investment in manufacturing and spur international trade and exports. These grants and investments will help communities develop plans to build strengths in specific industries through: “There is unlimited potential in the years ahead to create good, new manufacturing jobs in rural America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Through the work of the White House Rural Council, this Administration has been working hard to magnify economic opportunities in rural areas. Today’s announcement is one more example of how federal agencies are successfully partnering to create jobs while expanding the nation’s manufacturing output.” "EPA’s role in the development and implementation of the IMCP program and our focus on Brownfields Area-Wide Planning efforts will help communities support manufacturing and create jobs,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy. “This partnership will make a visible difference in communities across the country.” “IMCP is a vital resource for small manufacturers that are ready to grow, expand and create jobs in their communities,” said Acting U.S. Small Business Administrator Jeanne Hulit. “These small manufacturers help drive our economic growth, and SBA’s investment helps build stronger supply chains here at home to strengthen small businesses in communities across America.” Grants and investments awarded in 2013 will help communities undertake the strategic planning necessary to compete for the IMCP Challenge being launched in fall 2013 and awarded in the spring of 2014. In the 2014 Challenge competition, the Administration will designate stand-out “Manufacturing Communities” and give them an advantage in securing grants and investments through programs offered by 10 federal departments and agencies across the government. Moreover, top “Manufacturing Communities” may receive large IMCP Challenge grants and investments to finance – in partnership with industry and localities – substantial economic development investments such as workforce training, business parks or incubators, or infrastructure.
IMCP was first announced in April 2013.
More information on the FY14 IMCP Challenge will be available in the Federal Register in fall 2013.
The following is a list of winners of the 2013 strategy grants and investments. Descriptions of each project can be found at www.commerce.gov/IMCP.
The U.S. Department of Commerce ($4.4 million)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
